NEW YORK— Right-hander Adam Warren threw 6 1/3 strong innings, while Mark Teixeira drove in four runs with a double and a homer as the Yankees rolled to a 5-1 win over the Royals on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

Combined with the Rays’ 7-6 loss to the Mariners, the win moved the Yankees back into first place by a half-game over Tampa Bay in the American League East standings.

The Royals dropped their third straight, the first time they have lost three straight games in nearly eight months. Kansas City dropped four straight over the final four days in August.

“I was hoping it would go a little longer [without losing three straight],” manager Ned Yost said. “We’re going to have to find a way to come out and win a game tomorrow.”

Warren gave up just two hits, walked none and struck out five. He retired the first 10 hitters he faced until Mike Moustakas beat out a hit into short right field against the shift.

“We swung at a lot of balls out of the zone, a lot of sliders away,” Yost said.

Alex Rodriguez reached base three times for the Yankees and scored twice.

Left-hander Jason Vargas, just activated from the disabled list, pitched four innings for the Royals and gave up four hits and two runs while striking out six.